The Swirling Stars of Merethin is a mammoth, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by Iris with a fair hand, and notable for its museums and concert halls, digital currency, and conspicuous electricity pylons. The compassionate, democratic, cheerful population of 5.946 billion Merethinians love a good election, and the government gives them plenty of them. Universities tend to be full of students debating the merits of various civil and political rights, while businesses are tightly regulated and the wealthy viewed with suspicion.

The enormous, socially-minded, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Education, Industry, and Administration. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Merethin City. The average income tax rate is 99.5%.

The frighteningly efficient Merethinian economy, worth a remarkable 1,263 trillion golden coins a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector, which is highly specialized, is mostly made up of the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Book Publishing and Tourism. Average income is an amazing 212,555 golden coins, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Government buildings are being cleansed of anything that might have racist connotations, Merethinian Standard Vodka is the only drink that bars stock, Merethin's citizens often wander into each other's homes, and the government's economic policy can be summed up as "Abort, Retry, Fail?". Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Merethin's national animal is the axolotl, which frolics freely in the nation's sparkling oceans, and its national religion is Star Sister.

Merethin is ranked 4,321^st in the world and 9^th in Starlight for Largest Publishing Industry, scoring 18,951.02 on the Bella Potter Productivity e-Index.